About
Dr Rajiv Shah is a consultant psychiatrist specialising in general adult psychiatry and medical psychotherapy, an expertise held by fewer than 1% of UK psychiatrists. He also offers assessment for adolescents with specific difficulties with OCD and its related disorders.
Position at Priory
He currently works at the Priory Hospital North London as a specialist in OCD, anxiety disorders, and personality difficulties. He is one of only two psychiatrists in the UK offering specialist private inpatient treatment for OCD, BDD, and complex anxiety disorders, combining medication optimisation with CBT and schema therapy. His extensive experience of working and being supervised by leading figures in this field, in both the NHS and private settings.
Dr Shah is also an NHS insomnia specialist and provides tailored sleep assessments and evidence-based treatment for insomnia, nightmare disorder, and sleep paralysis.
In addition, he is an ADHD specialist, offering comprehensive assessments that explore overlapping and transdiagnostic difficulties. While able to recommend medication, his strength lies in psychotherapy informed care supporting behavioural change, identifying barriers, and helping patients access resources and reasonable adjustments.
Training
Dr Shah completed his medical training at Imperial College and following foundation training, completed his core (3 years) and higher general and medical psychotherapy training (5 years) in competitive training programmes across London. A graduate of the University of Oxford’s Master’s in cognitive behavioural therapy, Dr Shah uses socratic enquiry to build insight, self-awareness, and adaptive coping. He is accredited with the British Association for Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapies and is working toward accreditation as a supervisor.
Research interests
Known for his warmth, he integrates science with compassion to help patients rediscover confidence, motivation, and self-pride. His work is informed by lifestyle psychiatry, balancing evidence-based interventions with sleep, exercise, diet, mindfulness, nature, and social connection. He brings these together in his bespoke compassionate W.A.R.M.T.H. framework:
Wisdom (self-knowledge), Acceptance (self-acceptance), Resilience (self-empowerment), Magnanimity (self-forgiveness), Transformation (self- development) and valuing Hermeneutics (self-reflection).
Links to clinical articles/ research papers
You can learn more about Dr Rajiv Shah and his professional interest through the website www.drrajivshah.co.uk. You can read testimonials from patients and colleagues through the webiste I Want Great Care https://www.iwantgreatcare.org/doctors/dr-rajiv-shah-3